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Held up to the light, this wine illuminates an opaque and yet semi-translucent ruby color. Scents of chocolate, cherries and baked berry pie waft from the glass. It’s impossible not to want to get more up close and personal with this wine. A slight leather flavor mixed within tobacco and earth notes makes itself known up front and in the cheeks. In the middle of the palate, there is distinct cacao power and a sultry dark chocolate nib taste mixed with delicate floral notes that envelops the senses. Download Tasting Notes -
Fruit was handpicked and delivered to the winery where it was crushed and inoculated that same day with Clos yeast. Pump overs were done twice a day throughout the ferment. Alcoholic fermentation finished and the tank was pressed off skins. Malolactic fermentation began and the wine was transferred to 50% French oak barrels and 50% Hybrid oak barrels. Malolactic fermentation continued until January 2021. The wine stayed in barrel until June 2021 and then filtration was performed and the wine was bottled. The decision was made to bottle the wine early after sensory evaluation. The wine had come together so well and retained all of the primary fruit characters associated with the variety that further aging was deemed not necessary. Download Tasting Notes -
This is a Mistella style (fortified grape juice) made from Black Muscat grapes. The juice itself has not been fermented so it is very sweet. It is 16.5% alcohol (due to addition of fortifying spirit) which balances the sweetness nicely. The style is technically called a “Mistella” but is classified by the TTB as an “Angelica.” It has a pale apricot color and would suit anything from fresh fruit and berries to dishes with a syrup or sugar glaze. This is a chance to be daring! Download Tasting Notes -
Intensely colored verging on black! This wine is crafted from 100% Petite Sirah off of our estate vineyard. Located on the hillside to the far east of our property where the fruit receives ample afternoon sun allowing for the development of distinct varietal characteristics, rich color and a powerful presence. The nose shows rich black and brambly fruits, vanilla bean and roasted coffee. This wine is lush and easy-drinking, exhibiting intense berry characters, with superb texture you will find in none other than Petite Sirah. A delicious wine! Download Tasting Notes -
The beast has been released! This one hundred percent Tannat does not hold back, and neither should you. A bold, rich varietal that is making a name for itself in California is native to Uruguay; it is the dominant grape grown in the Basque region bordering Spain and France. A deep mulberry color comes from the thick skins of the grape, which also creates a gripping tannin structure on the palate. Mulberry and other dark berry flavors are mirrored in the flavor profile with each sip becoming more intense. This is an unapologetically delicious wine, containing a perceived sweetness and ever giving fruit. Le Bête has a generous structure that pairs impeccably with multiple foods. Staying true to its Basque roots, paella is a rather traditional pairing, especially when the socarrat is perfectly browned. And for an extra bite of luxury, use some of the wine in your favorite barbecue sauce recipe to bring the flavor to the next level... don’t be shy! Download Tasting Notes -
A new adventure with an old friend. La Belle emphasizes all things lovely about the Muscatel varietal that we have adored, and unfortunately forgotten about over the years. This Muscatel, known by the more common name of Muscat, offers insight into a whole new world of what can be achieved when this grape is produced in a new style. When popped and poured, the Lily of the Valley florals and deeply aromatic esters erupt out of the glass with the most delicate of force. The effervescence eager to be set free, it delivers with a cloudburst of ripe peach and other stone fruit, enchanting the utmost reaches of the palate. Instead of the wine continuing on with enveloping levels of overwhelming sweetness, it makes an acute turn in the direction of spritely acidity. A graceful summer porch sipper, acting as a foil to those beastly reds so commonly found in Paso Robles and throughout California. This is a wine that can fly solo, but with its acidity and off dry approachability can stand up to many a cuisine. The best attribute being, this wine can stand up to spice and sour dishes, such as Korean barbecue or various curries. Any variation of a farmer’s market fresh summer dish will work as a hassle-free pairing as well. Download Tasting Notes -
Cabernet Franc is a significant Bordeaux variety that figures prominently in the “right bank” styles of Pomerol and St. Emilion although it is rarely released there on its own. Paso Robles’ climate has the ability to get it ripe on its own and we are confident, and excited, to release this 100% varietal. This crop of Cabernet Franc from our estate vineyards was a much anticipated one. It is a very robust style that retains elegance and finesse. Download Tasting Notes -
For our Estate range of wines, we take the best parcels of each variety and individually handle them to allow the true personalities of each block to be preserved. This wine has the benefit of having our most prestigious Cabernet Sauvignon blocks as part of its blend. Blocks 4C and 4D form 33% of this wine. These blocks are normally designated for our Reserve Cabernets but were chosen for our Estate wine this vintage. The fruit was harvested over a period of 16 days commencing in October 2019, with dates depending on clonal and site differences to ensure all components are at their peak. Following fermentation, the wine was transferred to new French oak barriques with tight grain for 17 months on average before blending and preparation for bottling. Download Tasting Notes -
Grenache Blanc is a variety that is closely related to Grenache Noir, some believing it is, in fact, a mutation that occurred in Spain and eventually migrated to France. It is best known as a component for many Chateauneuf-du-Pape and Cotes du Rhone wines. In more recent times it has emerged as a stand alone variety and its versatility has resulted a broad array of styles. Our Grenache Blanc Block 2D-N (1.5 acres) was grafted onto original Merlot vines in the late90’s. It is a prolific vine with the potential for quite high yields and it tends to ripen later than some of the reds we harvest like Syrah and Grenache. This can be a bit tricky in the cellar but It’s fruit we are always keen to see. It was harvested on September 24th at 22 Brix and gently pressed and settled before fermentation at 58°F for 33 days. Again, cold fermentation was used to ensure all the delicate components remain with the wine. We do not utilize MLF or any oak with this wine, preferring to harness its unique fruit and textural characteristics. The variety’s texture plays an important role in that it adds eight to the mouthfeel without the expected higher alcohol associated with that complexity. At 12.01% alcohol it is one of those unique varieties that offers fruit ripeness not accompanied by elevated warmth on the palate. Download Tasting Notes -
The Paso Robles AVA has emerged as the premier Rhone varietal region in the USA. The dry, warm conditions lend themselves to producing Rhone style wines of extraordinary depth and character and Grenache is certainly no exception. Broken Earth Winery has enjoyed considerable success with our Estate Grown (and California Certified Sustainable) Grenache and we are proud to offer our latest vintage, the 2019. Harvested on 9/20/19 at 23.4 Brix it promised to be a wine that delivers outstanding flavour without an elevated alcohol level. At 13.79% it offers enough weight to the complex fruit without the presence of too much warmth on the palate. The wine went to oak in March 2020 and remained there for almost 20 months. The barrels (barriques) were predominantly 3rd and 4th use, allowing for some gentle development without overpowering oak present. On the palate it appears softer but the ripe tannins lend a lift to the extended flavours on the back end. This is a wine that can be equally enjoyed on its own or at the dinner table. Download Tasting Notes -
This variety originates from the south west of France in the region of Madiran, part of historical Basque territory. Typically it is blended with Cabernet Franc in the wines labeled Madiran. More recently it has become the preferred red grape for the country of Uruguay and has gained international acclaim. Our Estate vineyards added Tannat as a variety in 2012. Block 1N consists of 5 acres of vines planted on 10’ x 5’ spacings utilizing simple vertical shoot positioning (VSP) for canopy management. It is a prolific growing variety and we strive to keep yields below 4 tons/acre to ensure depth and concentration of flavours. As a variety, it exhibits very deep colour with bright, black berry fruits and considerable tannin. The real trick is to manage those tannins to provide a seamless flow through the palate. The 2019vintage provided the right conditions to meet our expectations. The resulting wine was harvested quite ripe at 26 Brix and the ferment was conducted at a cool 60F. This ensures the more delicate aromas and flavours persist. It only spent 6 months in second use French oak barriques to add supporting texture rather than dominate the wine. Download Tasting Notes -
Our Ragpicker’s Dream is made from four traditional Portuguese varietals: Touriga Nacional, Tinta Cao, Sousao & Tinta Roriz. It is a vintage-style Port, but as it is not made in Portugal we are not allowed to call it Port, hence the “Dessert Wine” Classification on the back label. Reminiscent of port wines from the Douro Valley in northern Portugal, this wine is made from traditional Portuguese varieties. This port is sure to compliment a multitude of desserts; but is divine enough to be enjoyed on its own. Download Tasting Notes
